International law has not failed the people of Gaza; rather, world leaders and institutional powers have repeatedly failed to enforce the established legal frameworks designed to protect civilians during armed conflict. That assessment forms the core of a newly released episode of PalCast, titled “International Law Didn’t Fail, World Leaders Failed International Law,” featuring Gaza-born writer Dana Besaiso.
Speaking with podcast hosts Yousef and Tony, Besaiso detailed her firsthand survival of the ongoing military assault in the Gaza Strip, her subsequent displacement, and her transition to postgraduate legal studies in the United Kingdom. As an LLM candidate specializing in public international law and a writer with We Are Not Numbers, Besaiso argued that the architecture of international humanitarian law remains clear, but the political will to uphold it is glaringly absent among global decision-makers.
The conversation offers an intimate look at the human cost behind geopolitical headlines, tracing the breakdown of accountability mechanisms while highlighting the resilience of Palestinians documenting the crisis. The episode is available for streaming on major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Examining the Breakdown of Enforcement Mechanisms
During the discussion, Besaiso challenged the widespread fatalistic narrative that international legal treaties, conventions, and court orders are fundamentally toothless. According to her analysis, instruments governing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide provide clear definitions and mandates, but powerful nations and international bodies routinely bypass enforcement for political expediency.
Drawing from her own background, Besaiso described the initial days of the assault on Gaza, recounting the repeated forced displacement of her family and the utilization of deprivation and starvation as tactical weapons. These personal accounts bridged the gap between abstract legal principles and the daily reality faced by millions of civilians inside the enclave. She emphasized that living outside Gaza while the destruction continues imposes a heavy psychological burden, driving her even harder to anchor her grief in rigorous academic study.
From Gaza to London: Pursuing Accountability Through Scholarship
The episode traces Besaiso’s arduous journey from the Gaza Strip into Egypt and ultimately to London, where she advanced her academic focus on armed conflict, human rights, and legal accountability.
Besaiso noted that her lived experience directly shapes her scholarship, transforming trauma into a structured determination to hold perpetrators accountable. Alongside her academic pursuits, she discussed finding solidarity and mutual support within a growing community of fellow Gazan students and writers living in exile, all striving to preserve the memory of their homeland while navigating the complexities of displacement.
Amplifying Voices and Accessing the Episode
The conversation underscores the urgent need to listen to Palestinian voices directly affected by the conflict, ensuring that historical records reflect the realities of the ground rather than political abstractions. By pairing personal testimony with legal analysis, the episode aims to reframe public discourse surrounding responsibility, justice, and state obligations under international law.
Listeners seeking to engage with the full conversation can access the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Community members and advocates are encouraged to share the broadcast to broaden the reach of Besaiso’s testimony and sustain international attention on the pursuit of accountability for Gaza.